Audrey Piehl
Arts & Entertainment Editor
As December rolls in, the scent of pumpkin pie fades from the kitchen and thoughts drift away from turkey: ‘tis the season for presents. Yes there’s also decorating the house, branches coated with snow, and Mariah’s horribly catchy “All I Want for Christmas is You.” But it would be a lie to ignore that nagging, materialistic desire for holiday gifts. So here’s a list of ten ideas, in no particular order, varying from the geeky to the practical to the absurd.#1: Blk Water
Where: Amazon.com
Where: Amazon.com
Price: $55 for 24-pack
Bearing slogans like the “Dark Side of Water” and “Water is the New Black,” how could I resist putting this ridiculous product on our gift list. It’s all natural spring water from Canada with a twist: Fulvic acid. A substance crucial in plant life with enough trace minerals to make your head spin, it’s combination with Humic acid makes this water pitch black. Oh, and for the Bravo fanatics out there, Blk was founded by the sons of Real New Jersey housewife Caroline.
#2: The Adventures of Tintin comics
Where: http://us.tintin.com/
Price: $12.46 (7.99 pounds)
Though huge throughout Europe, these treasured 1920s comics featuring a young detective named Tintin and his cute pup Snowy, haven’t made quite the same splash in the states. However the up and coming Spielberg/Jackson film promises a surge in popularity, and these comic’s perfect combination of historical fiction, mystery, cultural insights and hilarity make them a fantastic read.
#3: Cactus Keychains
Where: New Canaan Toy Store
Price: $6.99
It wasn’t long ago the world suffered from one of the strangest fads in history: pet rocks. Now a similar phenomena is literally budding: grow-your-own-cacti keychains. It’s simple really; you fill the capsule with mulch and the baby cactus sprout, put it on your car keys, and let it grow. Eventually it’ll reach adulthood and you’ll be left with a full-grown pet cactus. No exercise or smelly food required.
#4: Mangel-Wurzel Romeo and Juliet Poster
Where: www.mangel-wurzel.com
Price: $249.48 (159.9o pounds)
For hipster decorators and Shakespearean aficionados alike, it’s a beautifully designed poster unlike any other. The beloved tragedy’s text spelled out, every Romeo connected to every Juliet with a thin red line, 55, 44o in total. How can one resist such an artsy wall embellishment, especially if it will make you look incredibly refined.
#5: Crosley AV Room Portable USB Turntable
Where: urbanoutfitters.com
Price: $160
It’s a turntable. In a suitcase. And it’s super chic and indie. Plus that crackle of an old record is impossible to resist, especially when accompanied by any Presley or Cosby holiday classics.
#6: The Beatles vinyl box-set
Where: beatles.com
Price: $50
Intended as a joint gift with the above, you’ll need some sort of collection kick-starter. Who else is better than the Beatles, arguably the greatest rock band in history, for narrating your household shenanigans. Nothing like “Yellow Submarine” emanating from a turntable’s needle to get you motivated for homework…right?
#7: “Falling” Bookend
Where: erayo.com
Price: n/a
You know the scene; the ill-fated nemesis gets flattened by a huge entity, their last gesture a quick arm flail. Well now you can have this reoccurring image as a bookend! Hurray! But seriously, it’s a sleek and clever way to secure those dust-collecting novels.
#8: “Dress the Part” Posters
Where: Moxy Creative House
Price: $30
If you’re tired of the obnoxiously photoshopped and cookie-cutter movie posters of today, well, you’ve probably done nothing about it. But now you can, while embracing fashion and minimalism at the same time. Famous films represented by merely a trademark outfit: the American Psycho rain jacket, the Superman (or rather Clark Kent) glasses, etc.
#9: Horror Movie Shower Curtain
Where: thinkgeek.com
Price: $17.99
To be honest I’m not totally sure why I like this so much. Maybe it’s for the eery coolness, or because it’ll scare the crap out of visitors. Either way it’ll make a horrifyingly awesome present for those sick of typical Bed, Bath & Beyond.
#10: Bubble Calendar
Where: bubblecalendar.com
Price: $20.12
And of course any Holiday season would be incomplete without a calendar ushering in the new year. Therefore I present you with the bubble calendar, a bubble to pop everyday. It’s the packaging we all love so much, organized into a practical form granting one extra thing to look forward to in the morning. Plus, it’s made (pretty much) right next door, in Brooklyn, NY.
